County Supervisor John Moorlach, who sounded advance warning of the county's 1994 bankruptcy, plans to enter the 2014 race to replace retiring Rep. John Campbell, R-Irvine.

Moorlach would bring the field to three, joining state Sen. Mimi Walters and retired Marine Col. Greg Raths. All are Republicans, running in a heavily GOP district.

"Informally I'm in, but I haven't made an official announcement yet," Moorlach said Monday, adding that he is in the process of hiring a consultant, opening a campaign account, and contacting donors. "This seems to be the right fit. I think the polling would show I have a really good chance to serve in the 45th Congressional District."

Additionally, Irvine Mayor Steven Choi said Monday that he is considering throwing his hat in the ring in a bid to become the only Korean American in Congress.

"The Korean American community has interest in having a Korean-American in Washington," said Choi, elected mayor of the largest city entirely in the congressional district. "But it has a lot of risk involved because if I run and don't make it, then I may not have the opportunity to run for mayor again."

Choi would have to be re-elected in 2014 to retain his mayor's post.

Moorlach first attracted widespread public attention when he predicted the county's bankruptcy. In its wake, the accountant was appointed county treasurer and subsequently elected three times to that office. He was elected to the county Board of Supervisors in 2006 and must step down from that post next year because of term limits.

The congressional district being vacated by Campbell, which reaches from Anaheim Hills to Mission Viejo, is attracting attention from prospective candidates from within the district and beyond, since residency in the district is not a requirement to run for the House.

Moorlach, a Costa Mesa resident, lives outside the congressional district, and none of his supervisorial district overlaps it. But he gained attention countywide during the bankruptcy and has maintained a relatively high profile as county supervisor.

"I've shown I'm strong on fiscal issues, and I'm a known quantity," he said.

Walters' consultant, Dave Gilliard, was dismissive of Moorlach.

"A high-profile county supervisor? That's an oxymoron," Gilliard said. "And the bankruptcy was nearly 20 years ago. He needs to start talking about other things.

Walters served on the Laguna Niguel City Council for eight years, in the state Assembly for four years, and is in her second term in the state Senate. She rented a 570-square foot apartment in Irvine last year to qualify to run in her redrawn Senate district and is in the process of selling her 14,000-square-foot Laguna Niguel home, which is not in the congressional district.

Gilliard said Walters and her husband will be looking to rent a new home, although he didn't know where.

GOP candidate Raths lives in Mission Viejo. He's a political novice who took out papers to run in December, planning initially to challenge Campbell and complaining that the incumbent hadn't supported military funding and had voted for the Cash for Clunkers automotive program.

Raths, a Republican since 1980, was a fighter pilot and was assistant chief of staff of the White House Military Office for three years under Democratic President Bill Clinton.

"I feel like there's a sense of entitlement by some of these candidates – and I understand that they've worked their way up the political ladder and I'm just jumping in," Raths said. "But I've been in Washington, I've been a warrior, I've served my country, and now I want to serve in a higher capacity."

Republicans have a 45 percent to 28 percent advantage in the district's voter registration.

County Supervisor John Moorlach, a Republican, said he is making preparations for his bid for Congress. REGISTER FILE PHOTO
State Sen. Mimi Walters, R-Irvine, declared her congressional candidacy within hours of Rep. John Campbell announcing his retirement. REGISTER FILE PHOTO.
Retired Marine Col. Greg Raths, a Republican, was already planning to run for the 45th Congressional District seat before incumbent John Campbell said he would retire. PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG RATHS

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